Process for preparing oxids of uranium.



UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcn.

CHARLES I]. PARSONS, OF DURH A, :5, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

PROCES$ FOR PREPARING OXIDS OF URANIUM.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24., 1917 Application filed may 19,, 1915. Serial No. 29,210.

(DEDICATED TO THE IEWIIBLLIIG.)

(325), and the invention herein described and claimed may be used by the Government of the United States, or by any of its oliicers or employees in the prosecution of work for" the Government, or by any person in the United States, without payment of any royalty thereon.

The object of my invention is to prepare oxids of uranium from uranium compounds, such as the uranates.

\Vith the foregoing object in view, the

invention resides in the combination and de tails of treatment hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the fluxes and solvents, and the proportions thereof, and in minor details, may be made within the scope of the claims without dcparting from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In carrying out my invention in its preferably form, I proceed substantially as follows:

An alkali metal uranate. such, for example. as sodium uranate, and charcoal, both previously thoroughly pulverized, are mixed with tine grained salt (NaCl), in about the following proportions: sodium uranate, 20 parts; charcoal, 1 part; and salt, 35 parts. This mixture is fused in a receptacle of any suitable character, when the urauate will be converted into oxid of uranium.- The mass is allowed to cool and is then treated with water which dissolves out the soluble mat: ter. leaving a. residue consisting substantially of uranium oxid. This is washed with an alkalinesolution, as fofexample, a 2 or 3 per cent. solution of sodium hydroxid. The mass is then washed with water followed by digestion and washing with an acid solution, preferably a 3 to 5 per cent. 'hy-. drochloric acid solution, to remove certain impurities which may be present. The mass is then dried.

Instead of charcoal any other suitable re ducing agent may be employed, and instead of sodium chlorid any other suitable flux.

Any suitable receptacle for the fusing may be used, such as a nickel, wrought, iron or cast steel crucible, oiwthe operation may .take place in a reverberatory or ,muflle f'n-na'ce lined with any suitable resistant inat rial, such for example," as magnesia 'or carboruiidun brick.

This inventidn is Ifot li'n'iite d-to the treatment'of any particular uranate and, moreover, the process is not only'capable of. be-

ing used with uranates and diuranates but with other compounds of uranium, susceptible of reduction to oxid of uranium, such as uranyl chlorid, uranyl sulfate, etc.

I claim:

1. The process of preparing uranium dioxid, consisting in reducing a uranium compound in a fused bath with carbonaceous matter.

2. The process of preparing uranium dioxid, consisting in fusing a mixture of a uranium compound anda flux in the presence of carbonaceous materiaL- 3. The process of preparing oxid of uranium, consisting in reducing a uranate in a fused bath with carbonaceous matter;

l. The process of preparing uranium dioxid, consisting in fusing a mixture of a uranate and a flux in the presence of a carbonaceous material. i 1-. f

5. The process of preparing uranium dioxid consisting in finely dividing a uranate.

a flux and carbonaceous, matter, mixing and subjecting the mixture to fusion.

It. The process of preparing uranium dioxid, consisting in fusing a mixture of finely divided alkali metal nr'anate, flux and carbonaceous matter. cooling, dissolving out.

soluble matter and washing the residue.

7. The process of preparing uranium dioxid consisting in fusing a mixture of a uranatc and a flux in the presence of a reducing agent, dissolving out soluble matter, washing successively \vithan alkali solution, watcand an acid.

.8.. The process of preparing uranium dioxid, consisting in fusing a-inixture of a uranatc and a flux. in the presence of a reducing agent. dissolving out soluble matter with water and washing the residue.

CHARLES TA. PARSONS. 

